Watch case holder



A. STOLZ WATCH CASE HOLDER Filed March 15. 1959 Feb. 20, 1962 INVENTOR. ALFRED STOLZ BY j QaejL/M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,022,067 WATCH CASE HOLDER Alfred Stolz, 2594 Manistique, Detroit, Mich. Filed Mar. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 799,178 4 Claims. (Cl. 269-127) This invention relates to a new and improved holder device adapted to hold watch cases, watch movements or other articles.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved holder construction wherein a watch movement or other article may be quickly mounted or demounted.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder device especially adapted for supporting and clamping a wrist watch movement in a manner whereby it may be easily and readily worked on and inspected, regardless of the size or shape thereof. Y

It is a further object of this invention to provide a watch holder which functions to provide an automatic positive clamping engagement therewith, with suicient pressure to hold the movement without damage thereto, so that theV movement may be readily worked upon without fear of itl being displaced or accidentally removed from the holdenY Y A Y A It is a still further object of this invention to provide a holder device for watch movements and like articles that is simple and compact in construction, economical of manufacture, and extremely eicient in use, operation and service.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a watch movement holder made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view ot the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 2-2 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral indicates a square shaped base on which is mounted the vertical standard or post 11. The post 11 is xedly secured to the base 1li by means of the at head screw 12 which passes through the hole 13 in the base 10 and is threadably engaged in the hole 14 in the lower end of the post 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end of the post 11 is provided with a pair of cross slots as 15 and 16 which extend downwardly from the upper end thereof and which are cut perpendicular to each other. The outer r edges of the inner ends of the slots 15 and 16 are chamfered as indicated by the numeral 17.

Swingably mounted in the cross slot 15 is a pair of oppositely disposed, spaced apart jaw members 18 and 19, and, a similar pair of jaw members 20 and 21 are disposed in the cross slot 16. The jaw members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are elongated and are pivotally mounted in their respective slots by any suitable means as by the pins 22, 23, 24 and 25, respectively, which are passed through suitable holes formed in the lower end of the jaw members, toward the outer sides thereof, with a loose tit therebetween. The pins 22, 23, 24 and 25 are press fitted into suitable mating holes in the upper end of the post 11.

The jaw members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are each provided with a normal outward bias by means of a separate spring biased plunger rod as 26. Each of the rods 26 is slidably disposed in a vertical hole as 27 beneath the inner lower rice edge of its respective jaw member with the upper end thereof in abutting engagement with the jaw member. The upper end of each of the rods 26 is preferably rounded olf as shown in FG. 2. A suitable coil spring 28 is mounted in each of the holes 27 beneath the rod 26 therein and functions to normally urge or bias the rod 26 upwardly into engagement with the respective jaw member and to swing the jaw member outwardly to an open position as indicated by the broken line jaw members marked 2da and 21a. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper inner edge of each of the jaw members is formed with recesses as 29 and 30 for engagement with Va watch movement or other article. The recesses 29 are substantially concave for gripping the outer side of a large watch case, as for example, the outer side of a mans wrist watch. The recesses 30 are substantially square and are adapted for a gripping engagement with the outer periphery of a small watch movement, as for example, the movement of a ladys watch.

The jaw members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are automatically moved inwardly or pivoted inwardly into a clamping engagement with a watch movement held therebetween by means of the sleeve member generally indicated by the numeral 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve member 31 is slidably mounted on the post 11. The sleeve member 31 is provided with the axial hole 32 on the lower end thereof which is adapted to slidably receive the post 11. The hole 32 is in communication with the upper tapering hole 33 which is formed in the upper end of the sleeve 31. The tapered hole 33 is terminated by the lip 34 on the upper end thereof. The lip 34 functions to operatively engage the rear edges 35 of the jaw members 18, 19, 20 and 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve 31 is normally biased or urged upwardly by means of the coil spring 36, whereby, the jaw members are moved inwardly into a work clamping position.

In use, the sleeve 31 is grasped by the operator and moved downwardly to the dotted line position indicated by the numeral 37 against the pressure of the compressed spring 36. The springs 28 then function to urge the jaw members 18, 19, 2t) and 21 outwardly about their respective pivot pins to an open position for the ready reception of a watch case or watch movement. The operator positions a desired article with his hand between either the jaw portions or recesses 29 or 3i) and then releases the pressure on the sleeve 31. The spring 36 then functions to move the sleeve 31 upwardly whereby the jaw members will be cammed into a clamping engagement with the article. The various parts of the holder may be made to any desired size and may be made from any suitable material. For example, the base 10, and jaw members 1S, 19, 20 and 2i may be made from aluminum and the post 11, pins 26, sleeve 31 and pins 22, 23, 24 and 25 may be made from cold rolled steel. Experience has shown that the holder of the present invention provides suliicient pressure to hold the article against movement, without damage thereto, while it is being worked upon.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulll the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What l claim is:

1. A holder device of the class described, comprising: a base; a post on said base; a plurality of jaw members swingably mounted on said post for clamping an article therebetween; a plurality of spring biased members in said post for urging said jaw members into an open position for the reception of said article; each of said spring members engaging and urging a separate jaw member; arsleeve slidably :mounted on said ,post and engageable with said Y Vcarried inYV said pos t adjacent -each of 4said jaw members for urging s aid'jaw members 'outwardly of saidpost into an Vcgpennposition forfthe--reception of -said article; a Asleeve slidably mounted on Vsaid lpost and engageable with said jaw members for moving the sameinwardly of rsaid post Y into aclosed position against 'the urging of said spring biased plungers;.and, a'spring mounted around vsaid post and engageable at Aone end thereof lwith said sleeve for urging the same upwardly into an operative engagement with said jaw-members. Y

V3. A lholder devicefof vthe class described, comprising: a'horizontally disposed base; a vertical'post 4xed on said base and extending upwardly therefrom; a'plurality of Y radial slots formed v:in the upper bendof -said post; a jaw member ydisposed in each of said slots adjacent Vtheperipht ery of 'saidjpost for clamping an article therebetween; the lower end of `each of said jaw members being swingably secured Atotlreipost; a spring biased plunger slidably mounted in a vertically disposed hole in said post under .the lower end of each of said jaw members and engaging the same `for .urging .said jaw members radially outwardly yoisaid post -into an open `postion-forthe .reception of.said article; a sleeve telescopicallyslidably mounted over said post and'having the upper end Athereof engageable with said jaw members for moving the same radially inwardly of said post into a closed position against the urging of said spring biased plungers; and,-a spring mounted around said post below :said -sleeve and Ahaving the lower end abutting said base and the upper -end engageable with said sleeve 1for urging ,the same upwardlyinto an operative engagement with said `jaw members'.

Y 4. Awholder device of the class described, comprising: a horizontally'disposed`base; a'vertical post ufixed on said base 'and extending upwardly therefrom; a plurality of jaw members `swingably mounted on the upper end of said post forjclamping van article therebetween; spring means `on-said Vpost and engaging vsaid jaw members for urging the jaw members -into an open'position lfor the reception Lof saidV article; a sleeve telescopically 'slidably mounted over said post;-and, a spring mounted around saidpost below said-sleeve for normally biasing said-sleeve upwardly into 'engagement'with said ljaw members Vfor urging-the jaw members linto a closed position for clamping said article therebetween.

lReferencesCited in the 'lle-of fthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v206,591 `Mlie Y 'Iuiy'30, 1878 Y -1,927,528 'Nilsson ;Sept. l19, 1933 30 2,212,013 Devareaux Aug. 20, -1940 

